KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
For 25 years, one of my core missions with KidsOutAndAbout has been to make invisible things visible, to celebrate what local communities offer families. Everyone is busy, and local treasures are easy to miss. Our job is to point, spotlight, nudge, and say Look here. Try this. Bring the kids. But there’s another kind of invisibility worth fixing:
The people who create these experiences rarely get to see their full impact. They track tickets sold and kids enrolled, but may never hear that your child talked about their field trip for six months, found courage on their stage, or simply felt welcome exactly when they needed it. That’s why our annual Top 20 Places to Take Kids survey matters. Each summer, we ask readers to vote for their favorite local places to take kids.
The results help families see what other families love. The ranking and comments help local organizations see that their work matters. So your three minutes becomes both a recommendation and a thank-you. The survey is simple: Click on your three favorite local destinations. Then also, optionally, nominate favorites in special categories—like arts, sports, and STEM education—and leave comments that we’ll pass along to the people who make these experiences
happen. This year, we are excited to partner with Texas Lifestyle Magazine and DFW Motherhood on the survey... We'll all be shouting about the winners for 2026, so please make your voice heard all over Texas! Click here to vote in the 2026 edition of the survey. Help families find the places they’ll love, and help the people behind those places know they’re making a difference. The survey will be open until June 20.
—Debra Ross, publisher of KidsOutAndAbout.com, co-author of The Eclipse Effect: How to Seize Extraordinary Moments to Build Strong Communities
P.S. You can check out the 2025 list here to see who won last year. |
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KidsOutAndAbout.com: Discover more. Do more. Connect more. If you like my publisher's column, you can easily scroll through past columns in the "Notes from Deb" section of our site. |
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Main Street Fest is a family-friendly festival in the heart of Historic Grapevine, Texas, that is three fun-filled days of delicious eats, shopping, a KidZone, live music, a carnival and midway, Grapevine Art Project Market and so much more!
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Save the date and prepare to join the City of Watauga at the annual WataugaFest! The City of Watauga provides one of the largest Spring Festivals in the Mid-Cities area at the beautiful Capp Smith Park. With Carnival Rides, Vendors, Food Trucks, Live Entertainment, and more, your family is sure to have a great time.
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Parents' Night Out: The Ultimate Friday Steal! Ready to ditch the "Bluey" reruns and actually hear yourself think? We’ve got the kids covered so you can enjoy a well-deserved break without breaking the bank.
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Join us for Opening Day at Hawaiian Waters The Colony on Saturday, May 16th from 11:30 AM–6 PM – or get in early at 11 AM with your 2026 Platinum Season Pass – plus another full day of fun on Sunday, May 17th from 11:30 AM–6 PM. Then we’re open daily starting May 23rd, just in time for nonstop slides, waves and lazy river days all summer long!
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Join us for an engaging and informative Health & Safety Fair designed to promote wellness and safety for individuals and families in our community.
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Magician Mike Squires was born with a love for the absurd and has a knack for holding attention and connecting with audiences of all ages. Twice awarded Performing Magician of the Year by The Dallas Magic Clubs, his career spans almost three decades with tens of thousands entertained. His shows will leave you wondering, "how did he do that?" and begging for more. Get ready for feats of astonishment and understated tomfoolery!
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Join us for an outdoor concert experience featuring live band performances in a welcoming, community-centered setting. Set outside the Diamond Hill Community Center, this evening event blends great music, local vendors, and food trucks for a fun and laid-back night under the open sky. Guests are invited to bring lawn chairs or blankets, enjoy the atmosphere, and connect with neighbors while listening to live entertainment. All ages are welcome—just bring your friends, your family, and your love for music.
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Hunt Slonem: Bunnies, Birds & Butterflies transforms the Dallas Arboretum into an immersive, open-air gallery. Throughout the garden, Slonem’s monumental sculptures emerge among the blooms, reimagining familiar pathways as moments of color, reflection, and movement. Included with garden admission or membership.
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The dragon exhibit at Heard Museum will give families & friends a fun, educational activity to enjoy together. See the dragons move & hear them roar!
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Prepare for Adventure and Step Back in Time for the Time of Your Life into the 16th century world of the iconic Scarborough Renaissance Festival filled with lively entertainment, amazing artisanship, and interactive fun for everyone!
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Janel Nansenn, MA, is an educational therapist and the founder of Read-A-Rific®, a reading comprehension program and Texas PDSES vendor. Nansenn's work has transformed the lives of struggling readers. Over the course of her career, she has helped thousands
of struggling learners achieve success both academically and personally.
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- Free spring mini photo session with Shoott! - Dallas - Fort Worth - Shoott - Broadway, New York, NY, USA, 05/15/2026-05/17/2026, See link for times
- Movies in the Park - Quakertown Park, Oakland Street, Denton, TX, Friday, May 15, 2026, 6 pm
- Spring Event - Concert in the Park - Diamond Hill Community Center, Northeast
37th Street, Fort Worth, TX, Saturday, May 16, 2026, 6-9 PM
- Spring Event - Health and Safety Fair - Northside Community Center, 1100 NW 18th St, Fort Worth, TX, Saturday, May 16, 2026, 11 am- 3 pm
- Read with Mollie's Friends - North Richland Hills Library, 9015 Grand Ave, North Richland Hills, TX, Saturday, May 16, 2026, 10:30 am-12 pm
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Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the Fort Worth area! Use our Big List to help find the best one for your kiddos and check our events calendar to find Open Houses where you can meet teachers and tour the
schools.
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Looking for a thrilling family-friendly adventure in the Fort Worth area? Escape rooms are interactive, puzzle-packed experiences where you and your team work together to solve clues and complete your mission-all before time runs out! Whether you're
escaping a spooky cabin, cracking a high-stakes heist, or breaking a magical curse, escape rooms offer exciting, screen-free fun for kids, teens, and adults.
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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